Polygonal shield washer

Abstract

A polygonal shaped shield washer for mounting on a pick holder having a mating polygonal shaped barrel, the washer including a top having an interior opening and outer periphery defined by plurality of edges, each pair of adjacent edges being joined at a corner, and a skirt extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the top, the skirt having a plurality of edges and corners aligned with the edges and corners of the top.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mining machine, comprising:
 a rotatable member; and 
 one or more pick and holder assemblies mounted on the rotatable member, each pick and holder assembly comprising:
 a pick holder having a bore therethrough and a polygonal shaped barrel at a frontward end; 
 a tool pick having a shoulder, a cutting tip extending frontwardly with respect to the shoulder, and a shank extend rearwardly with respect to the shoulder; and 
 a polygonal shaped shield washer mating with the polygonal shaped barrel of the pick holder, the washer being located rearwardly adjacent to the shoulder of the tool pick, the washer including a top having an interior opening and outer periphery defined by plurality of edges, each pair of adjacent edges being joined at a corner, the washer further including a skirt extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the top, the skirt having a plurality of edges and corners aligned with the edges and corners of the top. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The mining machine of  claim 1 , wherein the polygonal shape is a regular hexagon such that the top and the skirt each have six substantially equal length sides. 
     
     
       3. The mining machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved edge transition portion connecting each edge of the top to the corresponding edge of the skirt, and a curved corner transition portion connecting each corner of the top to the corresponding corner of the skirt. 
     
     
       4. The mining machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a rearwardly beveled surface extending from the top and surrounding the interior opening. 
     
     
       5. A pick assembly for mounting in a pick holder having a polygonal shaped barrel, the pick assembly comprising:
 a tool pick having a shoulder, a cutting tip extending frontwardly with respect to the shoulder, and a shank extend rearwardly with respect to the shoulder; and 
 a polygonal shaped shield washer rearwardly adjacent to the shoulder of the tool pick, the washer including a top having an interior opening and outer periphery defined by plurality of edges, each pair of adjacent edges being joined at a corner, the washer further including a skirt extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the top, the skirt having a plurality of edges and corners aligned with the edges and corners of the top. 
 
     
     
       6. The pick assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the polygonal shape is a regular hexagon such that the top and the skirt each have six substantially equal length sides. 
     
     
       7. The pick assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a curved edge transition portion connecting each edge of the top to the corresponding edge of the skirt, and a curved corner transition portion connecting each corner of the top to the corresponding corner of the skirt. 
     
     
       8. The pick assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a rearwardly beveled surface extending from the top and surrounding the interior opening. 
     
     
       9. A pick and holder assembly comprising:
 a pick holder having a bore therethrough and a polygonal shaped barrel at a frontward end; 
 a tool pick having a shoulder, a cutting tip extending frontwardly with respect to the shoulder, and a shank extend rearwardly with respect to the shoulder; and 
 a polygonal shaped shield washer mating with the polygonal shaped barrel of the pick holder, the washer being located rearwardly adjacent to the shoulder of the tool pick, the washer including a top having an interior opening and outer periphery defined by plurality of edges, each pair of adjacent edges being joined at a corner, the washer further including a skirt extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the top, the skirt having a plurality of edges and corners aligned with the edges and corners of the top. 
 
     
     
       10. The pick and holder assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the polygonal shape is a regular hexagon such that the top and the skirt each have six substantially equal length sides. 
     
     
       11. The pick and holder assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a curved edge transition portion connecting each edge of the top to the corresponding edge of the skirt, and a curved corner transition portion connecting each corner of the top to the corresponding corner of the skirt. 
     
     
       12. The pick and holder assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a rearwardly beveled surface extending from the top and surrounding the interior opening.